Eurasia Insight:
LATVIAN PRESIDENT BEGINS CENTRAL ASIAN TOUR TO BOLSTER EU TIES
10/02/08

Latvian President Valdis Zatlers began an eight-day visit to Central Asia on October 2, aiming to strengthen political and economic ties between the region and the European Union.

Zatlers, accompanied by his wife Lilita, arrived in Kazakhstan on October 2. From there, he is scheduled to travel to Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. During his Central Asian tour, Zatlers, a medical doctor by profession, will deliver speeches at local universities, in addition to holding official meetings. The trip is designed to emphasize the importance of the EU economic and security relationships with Central Asia. The emphasis on commerce is underscored by the fact that a large Latvian trade delegation is also making the trip.

"It is our common European task to develop the political and economical dialogue with Central Asia, which is a potentially very important partner, taking into consideration our search for alternative energy sources and suppliers," Zatlers said a statement distributed by the presidential press service.

"We have to find a way how to negotiate with Central Asian countries, and we must lay a foundation for further cooperation with the purpose of continuing to promote common EU values," the Latvian president added.